Fig. 5. Histological analysis of skin from 1-year-old control (A,E) and K14Cre⁺/Miz1^lox/lox mice (B,C,F-H). Hematoxylin and eosin staining (A-C) revealed aberrant hair follicle morphology with thickened epithelium and distorted hair remnants in the follicle (B,C). In addition, pigmentary incontinence was observed in K14Cre⁺/Miz1^lox/lox (F,H) but not in control (E) mice with Fontana-Masson staining. (G) Melanin deposits in the upper third of the hair follicle epithelium. (D) Hair remnants and ectopic melanin deposition appear as black spots in stereomicroscopic analysis of back skin (arrows). (I-K) K14Cre⁺/Miz1^lox/lox mice showed a decrease in hair density (K) while specifically zigzag hairs were reduced (I; P<0.0001; bars represent mean values). In the upper panel in K, the light area is due to the unpigmented tips of the zigzag hairs which are missing in K14Cre⁺/Miz1^lox/lox mice (lower panel). The pigmentation of the hairs was irregular in K14Cre⁺/Miz1^lox/lox mice with coarse melanin inclusions, and the bends of zigzag hairs were diminished (J; arrow). Bars, 100 µm (A-C,E-H); 200 µm (D); 50 µm (J); 5 mm (K).